Flora Fujiko Arai

Flora Fujiko Arai was born in the summer of 1933 in Compton, CA, the third child of Mitsuzo and Fujiyo Yamada. Her family lived in the Los Angeles area until they were sent first to the Santa Anita Assembly Area and then to the Rohwer, Arkansas, Internment Camp at the beginning of World War II. Her father decided that the family should move to Japan rather than be restricted to the internment camp, and they traveled from Rohwer by bus to New York and then eastbound on two different ships, settling in the Hiroshima area. Unfortunately, her father was killed by the atomic bomb, and her mother raised Flora and her three siblings in Japan for a while until the entire remaining family eventually moved back to the Los Angeles area. Flora graduated from high school in Japan, and then returned to the Los Angeles area and graduated from Gardena High School in 1953. Upon graduating, she worked for an insurance company in Los Angeles.

Flora married Joe Arai in 1955 and worked for the City of Gardena until their first child was born. She returned to the workforce later, initially working at a retail carpet store and then later at Fujitsu Ten Corporation where she worked for over 30 years, eventually rising to the position of office manager. All the while, she and Joe maintained a residence in Gardena. He predeceased her in 2020.

Flora is survived by two daughters, Candace (Eugene) Yano and Joyce (Brian) Schilling, three step-grandchildren, Brian Schilling, Jr., Lisa Schilling and Laura (Adam) Boulanger, and two step-great-grandchildren, Carter and Julianna Boulanger. She is also survived by sister-in-law Jean Yamada and brother-in-law Robert (Shirley) Arai and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Mitsuye Fukunaga, Yuriko (Mas) Fukai and Henry Yamada, as well as brothers- and sisters-in-law Hisako Arai, Hisao (Mary) Arai, Lilian (Kozo) Ohara, Ruruko Demand and Shirley (Frank) Murakami.

At her request, no service is being held. A private visitation has been held.